2025 Nov - Manasota Key Early Morning Fishing

Esther with a Spanish mackerel 

Ladyfish were plentiful. Frank and I both caught one at the same time!

One of my larger ladyfish

I caught a small fish that looked like this but I did not have my Camera.

A Crevalle Jack fish I caught

We spent 2 weeks on Manasota Key and the weather was great. I unfortunately got very sick for most of the trip but did manage to get out at least twice and caught some fish.

2025 Aug - Maine Fishing

Esther with a largemouth bass

 

Frank with his largemouth bass - looks like he beat me!

We missed over a whole year of fishing, due to a large pine tree falling on our Maine cottage.  Work is still in process so not too much to show for our fishing this year☹️. 

2023 Nov Florida Wildlife

 One of the things I enjoy the most about fishing and being around water is the abundance of wildlife you get to see. Here are some of the beautiful wildlife we saw on our trip to Florida.

Gopher turtle making its way across the beach

Mama and baby Manatee

Crane

Blue Heron waiting to eat one of our catch

Shark swimming in the bay

Crab that would not cooperate and open up.

2023 Nov Boca Grande

Boca Grande Florida is known as the Tarpon capital of the world, so I thought I would try to catch one myself! Looks like I just missed lip-landing this giant!

2023 Nov - Fishing on Manasota Key Florida

 We had a spectacular time in Florida and we caught lots of fish! The final count of our catch was:

Frank: 13 Ladyfish, 11 Lizard fish, a spotted sea trout, 2 Spanish mackerel, 5 grunts and a greenback (baitfish)

Esther: 6 Ladyfish, 6 Lizard fish, 1 Spanish Mackerel, 11 Grunts ( I believe some of these were Pompano),  1 pinfish, a baby Tilefish, and a sand crab

So you can see Frank outfished me on this trip!

Here are some of our catch.

I believe this is a Pompano. We caught several of these.

Esther with a Ladyfish

One of Frank’s large Ladyfish

One of Esther’s Lizard fish

Frank with a Spanish Mackerel

Esther with her only Spanish Mackerel

Frank’s Sea Trout

A Grunt

A pinfish

I pulled in some sea weed and this little fish fell out! It is a TileFish. So I think I get the prize for the smallest fish.

Frank’s little baitfish, a Greenback

I also caught this little creature which is called a Sand Flea or Sand Crab.

2023 Aug 28 - Last day at Bear Spring Camps

 

Early morning looking over Great Pond

The day started off nice and calm and beautiful.  

We went fishing in the morning, but it was too sunny, and the fish were hard to find.

Frank caught a small pickerel, a smallish Pike, and a good-sized white Perch. The only fish I caught was a 28" Pike when we were on our way in for lunch around 12:30.

Esther with a 28" Pike

The wind kicked up and there were white caps on the pond after lunch!  We decide to give it a go anyway and hoped Chutes Island would give us some protection from the wind and perhaps hold some fish. The fishing and wind were not good there so we crossed the pond to get protection in the North Bay.  Fishing was still not good. We only caught 2 yellow perch and 1 pickerel and it was impossible to do anymore, so we headed in early.  We had hoped it would calm down as the afternoon went on, but it did not.  A nice neighbor came out to help us land at our dock, it was so choppy! 

2023 Aug 27 - Day 2 Fishing at Bear Spring Camps

 We got on the water around 10:30 am after breakfast and fished until 1:30 pm and then broke for lunch.

Frank caught a perch, 2 smallmouth, and a largemouth bass.  I caught a 21" and a 24" Pike, a pickerel, and a nice smallmouth.

Frank with one of his smallmouths

Esther with one of her Pike

It was a little unnerving but interesting to watch a seaplane that was practicing takeoff and landing quite near to us!

We went out fishing in the evening again. This time I caught a 24" Pike, a 27" Pike, a pickerel, and a 23" pickerel. Unfortunately, Frank did not catch anything tonight.  I think my #4 Mepps with the silver blade and Orange tail was the key to my catching.

Esther with her 27" Pike - They keep getting bigger!

As the sun went down, we were treated to some pretty skies on this calm night.